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Thanks for these classes, Jan. They've been valuable, chocked full of wonderful writing gems. September seems far away, but if you could send me the file, I'll go over early threads. At least I'll know that I can't kill them! (I believe I may be a closet thread killer.)

I also love titles, adore them really. About half the time the topic brings a title or phrase to mind first, and then I build a story around it. Other times I hop on the wagon of agonization--which the red line is telling me is not a word. I think it should be.

Only once have I REALLY wanted to use the topic for my title. It was the Countdown to Christmas week. I wrote a story chronicling the horrible events of 1968 that ended with the beautiful Christmas message from Apollo 8. "Countdown to Christmas" Would have been the best title. Instead I named it, "A Moment to Bind". I was not thrilled.

My favorite kinds of titles are those that provide the last puzzle piece to a story--without which one doesn't fully "get" it. The only time I've been able to do that is with, "A Place for Pamela"--though it's not my favorite story.

With this one I matched the MC's voice with the title perfectly and I was happy with the result:

Lisa, all of the titles you've mentioned are superb--I think I like the 'F' word one best for it's titilation and curiosity factor.

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is a phrase taken from a poem called "sympathy" by Paul Laurence Dunbar. It's a moving poem that ends with this stanza:

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me, When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,— When he beats his bars and he would be free; It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart's deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings — I know why the caged bird sings!

Very moving, and perhaps with a different meaning than many people attribute to it!

I'm drifting from the subject, but that book has a sentence in it that went far to awaken the writer in me when I first read it several years ago. Angelou writes about a time when, as a young girl, she and her brother got into a laughing fit at church. Later, she writes something like For days afterward, my brother and I stood at the edge of laughter's cliff, and any little thing threatened to send us over the edge.

Rats, I wish I had the exact quote, because it's so much better than that. It was a simple little sentence, insignificant in the long run to the rest of the book, but it stopped me cold and made me think dang, that's WRITING. I'd love to be able to do that.

Jan, thanks so much for this topic. I can honestly say I think I've broken everyone one of your what-not-to-do suggestions. Your information was REALLY helpful. I have to admit, I sometimes don't think about a title until I am submitting and the computer reminds me that I need one. That's not the best time to decide on a title.

Anywho, here are few of my favorite titles (You listed one of my titles in your article. Thrilling!)

glorybee wrote:I'm drifting from the subject, but that book has a sentence in it that went far to awaken the writer in me when I first read it several years ago. Angelou writes about a time when, as a young girl, she and her brother got into a laughing fit at church. Later, she writes something like For days afterward, my brother and I stood at the edge of laughter's cliff, and any little thing threatened to send us over the edge.

Rats, I wish I had the exact quote, because it's so much better than that. It was a simple little sentence, insignificant in the long run to the rest of the book, but it stopped me cold and made me think dang, that's WRITING. I'd love to be able to do that.

I think you did a wonderful job. And I so agree what her words can do to stir the writer in us!

I've learned a lot from these lessons as well. Looking back at some of mine, I'm a bit Oh well, time to move on.

The small "inconsequential" phrases get me, too. I read the book so long ago, I'm feeling it's time to pick it up again. Right after I finish Thin Blue Smoke--which I'm zipping through. It also has thoughtful passages.

Homework: Give us your 3 favorite challenge titles, and tell why you like them. OR mention 3 book titles that you really like. OR tell us how you choose your titles, or what you try to avoid. OR just respond to something in this lesson.

Ugh! I've missed so many, and now class is done 'til September. I'd love to get those lessons Jan. I have all the ones you sent when the system fried in January, so I need the ones since then.

Anyway here are my favorite titles (although they are written by others here.)
REAL Man Christmas Dinner by Rick Higginson (the reference to REAL Men caught my eye and I laughed the entire read.)

Sniggles by Jan Ackerson (and not just because you are the teacher or it's plastered on the challenge page ) the title caught my eye. I thought it was an error in spelling then went to read it. It was hilariously fun.

Maple Syrup Sermon by Debbie Roome (This was the first one I read in masters because I wanted to know what a Maple Syrup Sermon was. Turns out it was excellent reading and placed very high that week.)

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As far as choosing my titles: I have been attempting to keep them short and punchy, like Gone Underground in the Canada challenge orSlava in the Asia week. It does seem, I've noticed, that with the "salsa" titles I do tend to attract more readers. My Europe entry White Rose drew in a reader because of the title. She said it caught her eye because she learned of this in her study of Germany at college. The piece could have used a lot of refining though.

I guess after looking back over all my titles, I try to title it with the topic of my entry, hoping not to give away what the end will be.

Karlene

Thanking God every day for you.,Karls Book & Film reviews, devotionals, etc...Undaunted DevotionHelping my fiction friends find their Legacy

I've had titles on the brain this week--after Jan's class. I keep a list of books I've read. I see some salsa words. I see some titles that were just strange enough to make me wonder what the book was about.

and one that still makes me laugh the laugh of the sleep deprived mother...the title of the "get your baby to sleep CD" that I still use with my kids Jesus Loves Me Fast Asleep (and so does mommy, yes indeed)

~Karen~

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~~ Psalm 37:4

glorybee wrote:Great titles all, Karen--and did you love "The Guernsey Literary Society..."? It's near the top of my list, for sure--I adored it!

Could not put it down. Not the usual type of book I like to unwind with (no spies, mysterious deaths to solve). She had a good hook and it was amazing what she could do with the different voices in the letters.

I requested that from the library solely based on the title. My boys don't let me browse the stacks so I generally have to judge a book by its cover.